ToyotaSienna2003Overview/toyota/sienna/2003/base/

2003 Toyota Sienna

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2003 Sienna.

Body VANTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2003 Toyota Sienna is a van equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and an engine requiring a 5-quart fill of 5W-30 API oil to deliver an EPA-estimated 17 city, 23 highway, and 19 combined mpg. Beyond these mechanical baselines, the standout metric for researchers is the van's favorable placement within the model's 1996–2020 reliability history. Logging just 116 total owner complaints and a single recall—primarily concerning latches, locks, and linkages—the 2003 model sits dramatically closer to the all-time low of 2 complaints in 1997 than the problematic 2004 peak of 2,062. Consequently, this model year represents a comparatively dependable chapter in the Sienna lineage, meaning it offers a significantly more stable ownership experience than its immediate successor.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182003

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/23/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 360 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZD1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 360 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHOTOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-65R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZD1
Engine air filter1780103010
Fuel filter233000D010 alt 232170F010
Spark plug9008091180
Front wiper blades8521202121 alt 8522202130
Serpentine belt9008091212 alt 9936631040
Thermostat90916A3003 alt 1632562010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length194.1 in
Overall width73.6 in
Overall height66.9 in
Wheelbase114.2 in
Curb weight3913 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 63.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 23 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Sienna of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.3–9.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.30 sec — 1998 LE
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2001LE 3.0L V69.90 sec17.40 sec210 hpFWD
1998LE 3.0L V69.30 sec16.90 sec194 hpFWD
1998XLE 3.0L V69.40 sec17.00 sec194 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, ATF in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilATF
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.9 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt
Transfer Case FluidGL-5
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity1.9 Pints

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts159 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing7-19 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.25-1.38 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance360 cca
Optional BCI Group Number24F

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance13.4-14.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression145-218 psi
Intake Valve Lash0.006-0.010 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.010-0.014 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle79 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.024 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miDriveshaft Flange Yoke (torque)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAir Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Driveshaft Flange Yoke (torque) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2003 Toyota Sienna sits at a critical transition point in the federal record, preceding a massive spike in complaints and recalls that began in 2004. With only 116 complaints and 1 recall, the 2003 model shows a marked improvement over the 207 complaints seen in 2002 and a stark contrast to the 2,062 complaints reported for 2004. The most frequent issues for this specific year involve latches/locks/linkages (17), structure (12), and the power train (11), though the data does not specify the root causes for these reports. Additionally, the 2003 model recorded 13 crash complaints, 2 fire complaints, and 112 Technical Service Bulletins. Because it maintains a low complaint volume relative to the dramatic increase in the following years, this is a good year to buy.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
112
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
116
Owner complaints
13 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 116 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Latches/Locks/Linkages17
Structure12
Power Train11
Service Brakes, Hydraulic10
Vehicle Speed Control9
Engine & Engine Cooling7
Tires6
Structure,Latches/Locks/Linkages5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

10V160000StructureReported 20/04/2010

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998 THROUGH 2010 SIENNA PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 7, 1997 AND JANUARY 4, 2010, CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS… Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS WITH AN INTERIM LETTER INITIALLY INSTRUCTING THEM TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED DEALERS TO INSPECT FOR CORROSION. A SECOND NOTICE WILL BE SENT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 112 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0035-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…
T-SB-0038-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureTo prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film…
T-SB-0039-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureThe condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the…
T-SB-0061-23 Rev22024-12-05StructureToyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to…
T-SB-0062-23 Rev22024-12-03StructureVehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sienna. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2003 Sienna take?

5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2003 Sienna have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sienna get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 23 highway / 19 combined mpg.